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Candlelit vigil for Tom Hurndall

January 1st, 2003

A candlelit vigil was held in Whitehall last night for peace activist Tom Hurndall, who died on Tuesday. More than a hundred people, including MP Glenda Jackson and members of Pax Christi gathered outside Downing Street along with Mr Hurndall's family. Tom, 22, from north London, had been in a coma for eight months after being shot in the head by an Israeli soldier in a refugee camp in Gaza. He was shepherding two children to safety in Rafah on 11 April when he was shot. An Israeli soldier has already been indicted on six charges, including one of aggravated assault. His family are calling for him to be charged with murder. Mr Hurndall was with the International Solidarity Movement, a group which campaigns against Israeli occupation using non-violence. His mother Jocelyn said she was very proud of her son. She said: "Tom is without suffering now. He is without pain." "Tom was somebody who felt very strongly about justice. His personal courage, his moral and physical and emotional courage are all qualities which define Tom's spirit. " Many of those present at the vigil carried photographs of Tom and placards calling for the British government to "speak up" for human rights in Palestine.

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